The NHS is in a critical condition: overwhelmed waiting lists, declining outcomes, demoralised staff.
Public satisfaction is at an all-time low, and demand is increasing with an ageing population and rising health inequalities.
Without reform, the NHS risks becoming a “poor service for poor people.”
Creation of Neighbourhood Health Centres in every community, open 12 hours/day, 6 days/week.
Services moved closer to home: community-based care as the default, with hospital only if necessary.
Shift in funding from hospitals to community care within the next 3–4 years.
Same-day GP appointments for those who need them.
Integrated care teams around patient needs, not organisational silos.
GP contracts to support larger-scale, team-led neighbourhood models.
Expansion of personalised care planning and personal health budgets.
Increased community pharmacy roles in chronic condition management.
Urgent care redesigned to reduce hospital outpatients; digital triage and 111 booking expansion.
£120M for mental health emergency departments.
NHS App becomes the front door to the NHS by 2028, offering:
My NHS GP, My Specialist, My Care, My Medicines, My Children, My Carer, etc.
Self-referral, care plans, appointment booking, health tracking.
Introduction of AI scribes and digital admin tools to reduce staff burden.
Single Patient Record and real-time data access for staff and patients.
Digital-first but inclusive design for those without access.
Goal: Halve the gap in healthy life expectancy between richest and poorest.
Policies include:
Ban on tobacco sales to anyone born after 2009.
Ban on junk food ads, reform sugar tax, and require health sales reporting from big food companies.
Expansion of Healthy Start, free school meals, and HPV/lung cancer screening.
National rollout of genomic testing at birth and personalised risk scoring.
Weight-loss medication access, digital health reward systems, and expansion of school mental health teams.
Merge DHSC and NHS England HQs; reduce central staffing by 50%.
ICBs become strategic commissioners with full accountability.
New Integrated Health Organisations (IHOs) can hold full budgets for local populations.
Patient Choice Charter and “patient power payments” to incentivise provider responsiveness.
All NHS staff to have personalised career plans and coaching.
Rollout of AI assistants and skill-mix reforms to expand scope for nurses and AHPs.
1,000 new specialty training posts over 3 years.
Expand nursing apprenticeships, prioritise local recruitment.
Contractual reforms to link pay with performance and financial sustainability.
NHS to become world leader in AI, genomics, wearables, and robotics.
New Health Data Research Service and global genomic studies.
National HealthStore for digital health tools.
NHS to deliver 2% productivity gain/year for next 3 years.
Block contracts to be replaced with value-based payments and “year of care” funding.
Providers must deliver outcomes to receive full payment.
3% of NHS spend earmarked annually for service transformation.
Financial incentives to reward high-performing clinicians and services.
Publish league tables of providers with real-time quality, outcome, and satisfaction data.
CQC reform to data-led regulation and more frequent inspections.
New national maternity and neonatal safety taskforce.
Poor quality = decommissioned, regardless of setting (including GP practices).
GP recruitment, training and digital support are key commitments.
End to 8am appointment scramble using triage and app-based tools.
Practice at scale encouraged, with options beyond traditional partnerships.
Reformed dental contract to retain NHS-trained dentists for at least 3 years.
Funding available for infrastructure upgrades to surgeries and neighbourhood hubs.
Focus on prevention, patient choice, and staff autonomy.
We are pleased to share an important update following a recent meeting between Dr. Dean Eggitt and Ms. Nicola Mundy, our local Coroner. The discussion focused on strengthening communication and clarity between the Coroner’s Office and general practice, particularly in the context of the Medical Examiner (ME) system and the coronial referral process.
To support better continuity and understanding for GPs following the death of a patient, the Coroner’s Office will now take the following steps:
Summary Autopsy Reports: Where a preliminary post-mortem identifies a natural cause of death, or the cause remains uncertain pending further investigation (e.g. toxicology or histology), the Coroner’s Officers will send the GP a copy of the summary autopsy report.
This is a short document outlining the initial findings. It is not a cause for concern. It is intended to support good communication, patient record accuracy, and clinical learning.
Final Confirmation of Natural Death: Once the full investigation is complete and the cause is confirmed to be natural, GPs will receive a final letter summarising the official cause of death.
Cases Proceeding to Inquest: Where an inquest is required either immediately or following investigation, GPs will be:
Asked to submit a report early in the process, and
Be informed of the outcome in writing after the inquest concludes.
These steps represent an ongoing commitment to toward open and consistent communication from the Coroner’s Office to primary care.
Ms. Mundy was also keen to hear how general practice is adapting to the new ME process. We reassured her that, on the whole, the system appears to be bedding in well, with few major concerns raised so far.
She explained that when a GP refers a case to the Coroner, it undergoes a thorough vetting process by her team. If it becomes clear that the case does not meet the threshold for coronial input, it may be redirected back to the ME or the referring GP for completion. This is not a reflection of any wrongdoing or error by the GP but is simply part of an appropriate triage system to ensure the Coroner’s statutory role is used appropriately.
Ms. Mundy hopes that GPs do not see this as additional work as a criticism, but rather as a learning opportunity and a refinement of process over time. She remains committed to maintaining good working relationships with GPs and making the process as smooth as possible.
Finally, Ms. Mundy has extended an ongoing offer of practical support to GPs who may be asked to attend court as part of an inquest. This includes:
The option to visit the court beforehand to reduce uncertainty and anxiety.
Willingness to attend locality or practice meetings informally to explain her role and answer any questions.
If your team would benefit from either of these offers, please contact Dr. Dean Eggitt, who will coordinate this with Ms. Mundy.
This is a positive step that strengthens mutual understanding and builds trust between general practice and the Coroner’s Office. We thank Ms. Mundy for her openness, support, and collaborative spirit.
One GP takes centre stage to answer your questions – openly and honestly.
Curious about how general practice works?
Want to understand more about the NHS or the pressures facing local services?
Now’s your chance to ask!
Join us on Friday, 18th July at Cast, Doncaster for a live Q&A session that puts the community first.
One Stage. One Doctor. Your Questions.
11:00am – 12:30pm (Free refreshments from 10:15am!)
Cast (Second Space), Waterdale, Doncaster, DN1 3BU
Tickets are FREE – but spaces are limited!
Scan the QR or click to book via Cast
Remember to send us your questions in advance! –www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/vklswb
or
Email: info@healthwatchdoncaster.org.uk
This isn’t a GP appointment – it’s a relaxed and open conversation with someone on the frontline of healthcare.
Let’s talk, listen, and learn – together.
If you are a health or social care provider and would like to explore hosting or supporting the WorkWell scheme, please contact Michael Gill, Work Well Team Leader – m.gill@syha.co.uk. 07579962284
General practitioners (GPs) often find themselves at the forefront of patient care, and tragically, this sometimes includes being involved in the care of individuals who go on to die by suicide. The emotional and professional impact of such events can be profound, yet the specific support needs of GPs in these situations are not well understood.
To address this important gap, Professor Helen Killaspy from University College London (UCL) is leading a research study titled “The Experience and Support Needs of General Practitioners Following a Patient’s Death by Suicide or Suspected Suicide.” This study has been granted ethical approval by the Life and Medical Sciences Research Ethics Committee (Project ID: 1100).
As part of the research, UCL has developed a confidential online survey aimed at gathering insight into the experiences of GPs who have been affected by a patient’s suicide or suspected suicide. The survey explores both the emotional impact and the types of support that may be helpful, with the ultimate goal of informing better resources and support mechanisms for primary care clinicians.
We strongly encourage GPs who have experienced such a loss to consider participating in this important study. Your input could be vital in shaping how the profession responds to, and supports, colleagues affected by suicide in the future.
🕒 Estimated completion time: 20 minutes
📅 Survey closing date: 25 July 2025
🔗 Access the survey and full participant information here:
https://qualtrics.ucl.ac.uk/jfe/form/SV_24VSJ9ibyKk5KD4
If you have any questions or would like to know more about the study, please contact the lead researcher, Yuke Zhou, at yuke.zhou.24@ucl.ac.uk.
Thank you for considering taking part in this meaningful piece of research.
We encourage all healthcare professionals involved in the provision of palliative and end of life care to visit the dedicated South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) webpage, which brings together key information, resources, and guidance to support high-quality, compassionate care for people approaching the end of their lives.
The webpage serves as a central hub for:
🌿 Local and regional service information
📘 Clinical guidance and best practice
🤝 Support for multidisciplinary teams
📅 Education, training, and events
📝 Policy documents and commissioning updates
Whether you are a GP, community nurse, care home clinician, or practice manager, this resource is designed to support your role in ensuring patients and their families receive the care they need at the right time, in the right place.
🔗 Visit the South Yorkshire ICB Palliative and End of Life Care webpage here:
Palliative and End of Life Care :: South Yorkshire ICB
Please share this resource with your teams and colleagues. Providing consistent and coordinated end of life care is a priority for our region, and this webpage is a helpful tool in achieving that shared goal.
As part of an ongoing NHS effort to identify and support individuals affected by the contaminated blood scandal, all new patients registering with GP practices will now be routinely asked if they received a blood transfusion before 1996. This initiative aligns with recommendations from the recent Infected Blood Inquiry and aims to find undiagnosed patients who may have contracted bloodborne infections, such as Hepatitis C, from contaminated blood products.
Each year, approximately 400,000 people born before 1996—representing around half of all new online GP registrations—will be asked this question during their registration process. Those who indicate that they had a historic blood transfusion will be offered testing for Hepatitis C to ensure early diagnosis and timely treatment.
To make this process as convenient and confidential as possible, patients will have the option to receive a discreet self-testing kit. This kit enables them to collect a small blood sample via a simple finger prick in the privacy of their own home, which they can then return for analysis.
This important screening measure helps protect the health of patients and supports NHS efforts to address the legacy of the contaminated blood tragedy.
For more details about these changes and the NHS programme, please see the official NHS England announcement:
Changes to Online GP Registration Service Following Infected Blood Inquiry Recommendations
The Senior Managers offence introduced under Section 196 of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, introduces direct corporate liability for certain economic and fraudulent crimes committed by senior managers
The Senior Managers offence is a significant development in corporate liability. It applies to all corporate bodies (including companies, LLPs, charities and traditional partnerships), regardless of size, and holds them accountable for offences committed by senior managers within the scope of their authority. The offence has been in force since December 2023.
If a senior manager commits a relevant offence (of which there are 48 in Schedule 12 of the Act) within the actual or apparent scope of their authority, the organisation is also guilty of the offence. A ‘senior manager’ is defined as anyone who plays a significant role in making decisions about the whole or a substantial part of the organisation’s activities, or in actually managing or organising those activities. They do not need to hold the job title ‘senior manager’. The definition will therefore not only capture those in management (such as directors/ board members), it will also capture partners and others in senior positions (e.g. the partners of a GP practice). Depending on the nature of the role, the definition is likely to include within its scope the role of a practice manager at a GP practice, for example.
Examples of relevant offences include:
As such, if someone in a position of authority (satisfying the definition of being a ‘senior manager’) commits one of the listed offences, the organisation will also therefore be guilty of the same offence.
The organisation could face prosecution, a criminal conviction and a corporate criminal record, fines, potential regulatory scrutiny and significant reputational damage.
Unlike the new Failure to Prevent Fraud offence (which technically only applies to the largest of organisations), there is no defence of having had ‘reasonable fraud prevention measures’ in place at the time the offence was committed. Organisations must therefore do what they can to ensure that the opportunity for fraudulent behaviour does not arise in the first place. They should therefore be proactive in assessing and reducing their fraud risk. Steps that can be taken to do so include:
Public sector organisations are required to undertake fraud risk assessments as set out by the Public Sector Fraud Authority, and these should be extended to include risks of frauds in scope of the Senior Managers offence. At the time of writing, the relevant standard is the ‘Professional Standards and Guidance for Fraud Risk Assessment in Government’. The NHS Counter-Fraud Authority provides more detailed information on fraud risk assessment and the Public Sector Fraud Authority requirements to be applied across the NHS and wider health group.
The above article was kindly supplied by VWV Solicitors.
For further information, please contact Ben Hay (0117 992 9209) or Terence Dickens (0117 314 5408) in their Fraud team, or Rachel Kelsey in their Healthcare team (07384817640).
The HERON project is an important research initiative focused on improving respiratory health by identifying the most urgent unmet needs faced by patients, carers, at-risk groups, and healthcare professionals. This project aims to explore how new or enhanced technologies could better support those affected by chronic lung conditions.
To gather valuable insights, the HERON team has launched a survey designed to understand experiences, challenges, and innovative ideas related to respiratory health and technology. The survey is easy to complete, takes around 15 minutes, requires no technical expertise, and can be completed anonymously.
The HERON project welcomes responses from a wide range of individuals including:
People living with a chronic lung condition
Individuals who believe they might have a chronic lung condition, based on symptoms or test results
Those who consider themselves at high risk of developing a chronic lung condition due to factors such as smoking history, family history, occupational exposures, or poor housing conditions
Carers supporting someone with a chronic lung condition
Healthcare professionals who care for adults or children living with chronic lung disease — including those working in all care settings, disciplines, and at all stages of the patient journey
If you are a healthcare professional, you are invited to complete the survey here:
HERON Survey for Health and Care Professionals
If you are a patient, carer, or someone at risk, please complete the survey here:
HERON Survey for Patients and the Public
Your participation will provide essential insights that could shape the development of new technologies and improve respiratory care for thousands of people. We encourage everyone who meets the criteria to contribute their voice to this important initiative.
For further information or questions about the HERON project, please contact the research team through the links provided above.
We are pleased to announce the addition of a dedicated ECHO session focused on “Writing a ReSPECT Plan”, designed to support healthcare professionals who are involved in creating or completing ReSPECT (Recommended Summary Plan for Emergency Care and Treatment) plans.
This interactive session, scheduled for November 2025, will provide practical guidance, explore best practices, and help clinicians develop confidence and clarity when initiating and documenting ReSPECT discussions with patients and their families.
This opportunity is open to all healthcare professionals who are responsible for completing ReSPECT plans, including GPs, nurses, paramedics, and allied health professionals.
Please share this invitation with colleagues and any members of your team who may find this session valuable.
We are pleased to announce the addition of a dedicated ECHO session focused on “Writing a ReSPECT Plan”, designed to support healthcare professionals who are involved in creating or completing ReSPECT (Recommended Summary Plan for Emergency Care and Treatment) plans.
This interactive session, scheduled for November 2025, will provide practical guidance, explore best practices, and help clinicians develop confidence and clarity when initiating and documenting ReSPECT discussions with patients and their families.
This opportunity is open to all healthcare professionals who are responsible for completing ReSPECT plans, including GPs, nurses, paramedics, and allied health professionals.
Please share this invitation with colleagues and any members of your team who may find this session valuable.
Doncaster LMC is been a member of the LMC Buying Groups Federation.
Buying Group membership entitles practices to discounts on products and services provided by the Buying Group’s suppliers.
Membership is free and there is no obligation on practices to use all the suppliers. However, practices can save thousands of pounds a year just by switching to Buying Group suppliers. To view the pricing and discounts on offer you need to register for access to the Buying Group’s online portal: https://buying.plexusportal.co.uk/Register.
What is the purpose of the Buying Group and how does it work?
The sole purpose of the Buying Group is to save its member practices money by negotiating discounts on goods and services which practices regularly purchase. The Buying Group team negotiate with suppliers, after which they identify ‘approved’ suppliers, who guarantee to give you significant discounts over what you would otherwise pay for their services, in return for the Buying Group’s endorsement and help in making you aware of what they offer.
Does it cost us anything to be part of the group?
No, membership is free and members are free to use as many discounts as they wish.
Is there any obligation to take up the deals offered?
No. Each practice is free to take up or decline any of the deals the Buying Group have negotiated. If you wish to take advantage of any of the offers in question, you will be given contact details, and all communications take place between you and the individual supplier*.
*The Buying Group accepts no liability for any contract willingly entered into by a practice with an approved supplier. Practices are advised to check that the terms of any contract with suppliers are consistent with those the Buying Group have negotiated and are advised to inform the Buying Group team of any discrepancy. The Buying Group do not, however, accept any responsibility for any member practices’ failure to check the terms of the relevant contract and the principle of caveat emptor (buyer beware) applies in all cases. Your rights as a consumer under the Consumer Protection Act are unaffected. With respect to any services to which the provisions of the Financial Services Act 2000 might apply practices are advised to seek independent financial advice as may be appropriate.
What happens to my details?
When a practice signs up for Buying Group membership, they will keep your basic contact details (practice address) on a secure system. On the membership application form, they also ask you how they can use your personal data (i.e. your email address) but even if you do sign up to receive their emails you can stop them at any time by clicking the unsubscribe button.
What if I am not happy with the quality of goods and services supplied?
Always let the Buying Group know if you encounter any problems getting what you want, and they will endeavour to sort it out.
Contact the Buying Group
The Buying Group is managed by Plexus Support Services Ltd:
Tel: 0115 979 6910
Email: info@plexussupport.co.uk
Website: https://www.plexussupport.co.uk
